Angels in the jurists' discussion (malaika)

In the lexicon a malak is a subtle luminous body, and the angels are its plural; they dwell in the heavens. Belief in them is a pillar of the creed, and denying their existence is unbelief by the agreement of the Muslims. ^{1 2}

The jurists distinguish angels from humans in that angels were made of light, neither eat nor drink, and worship God; the jinn share with the angels the ability to hide and to take shapes. ¹

They were created before Adam. They neither eat, drink, sleep nor marry, and by God's permission they can take human forms. ^{2 3}

Their relation to God is one of servanthood and obedience; they do not disdain his worship and do not descend except by his command. God has charged angels with every kind of creature; their chiefs are Jibril, who carries revelation, Mikail, who carries rain, and Israfil, who blows the trumpet. ^{3 4}

The jurists agree that the prophets are the best of creation, and that the Companions, the Successors and the righteous excel the rest of the angels. They differ on whether the rest of the angels excel ordinary Muslims: Abu Hanifa held that ordinary Muslims excel them, while Muhammad and Abu Yusuf held that the angels excel. ⁵

The jurists agree that whoever curses the angels, mocks them, calls them liars about what they brought, or denies their existence is killed as an unbeliever. They differ on whether he is asked to repent; the majority say he is, while the Malikis say, in the better-known view, that he is not. ⁵